Thorn's Bondmate (Zarronian Warriors Book 2) Read online

  Tor, he wanted that. He wanted to feel her weight on his legs, her back against his chest, his cock buried in her pussy while he pressed his hands against her soft belly and breasts. He wanted to claim her. Just the thought had warning alarms putting an end to any thoughts of claiming her. It didn't prevent his cock from hardening though.

  Cursing, he adjusted the water to cold and hoped it would cool the fever rising in his body. If it didn’t he'd have to return to her or try using ZL3 and meditation. Neither option appealed to him, especially since he was still trying to figure out what she was up to with her change in behavior. When she'd stroked her hands over her body and invited him to stay he'd wanted to order her to continue touching herself until she came. Then he'd wanted to climb all over her and take her until she begged him to stop.

  Realizing he was only making his fever rise he shut off the water and ran a drying cloth over his body. He grabbed an injection gun and a vial of ZL3, hesitated for a moment then loaded it and held it against his neck. He depressed the trigger and felt the drug enter his body. Frustrated and angry, he left the injector on the counter, moved into his bedroom and dropped onto his bed. While he waited for the drug to take effect he thought about Daria's behavior. In the past when he'd left her with a crude remark she'd ignored him or turned her back on him. Tonight she'd…hell, he didn’t know what she'd done. Was she flirting with him or trying to anger him?

  Twenty micro-units later, he gave up on the ZL3 working and got up, dressed and headed to the gym. When he entered several warriors glanced at him and scrambled to get out of his way. He ordered them to stop, pointed to six of the biggest ones and walked onto the fighting mat.

  "Attack me. Now."

  The warriors he'd chosen moved into position around him. The rest of the warriors, eager to see their Commander fight, surrounded them.

  Thorn stood in the center of the mat waiting for one of them to make the first move. The warrior directly in front of him and the warrior behind him attacked at the same time. He stepped forward and to the side then twisted and swiped his arm across the first warrior's back causing him to stumble into the second warrior. They both went down, rolling off the mat.

  "You're both dead." He motioned to two warriors in the crowd. They stepped forward, replacing the first two fighters.

  The biggest of the six warriors attacked, rushing Thorn and getting his arms around his torso then lifting him up and slamming him down onto the floor. Thorn hit hard but rolled away and jumped to his feet just in time to crash into the warrior. Punch after punch connected, leaving behind bruises and in some cases drawing blood. Eventually the warrior tired and Thorn moved in for the 'kill.' They ended up on the floor together but the warrior was face down and Thorn took advantage of it by straddling him and putting a choke hold on him. The warrior laughed and surrendered. Thorn released him and beckoned to another warrior to join them.

  The battles went on for two units until Dag entered the gym and challenged Thorn.

  Thorn's chest dripped with sweat. His lip was split and one eye was swollen and turning black. He smiled at Dag. He'd fought beside him many times and knew they were evenly matched. Just as he expected Dag stood across from him waiting for him to make the first move. He smiled and shook his head then charged, slamming into Dag and shoving him back to the edge of the mat. Dag planted his feet and shoved back at the last moment. They separated but before Thorn could move back Dag gave him a double punch to the belly. Thorn grunted and fought off the temptation to double over. Instead he went after Dag. Punch after punch followed until both of them were exhausted and stumbling. Finally, Thorn stepped back, laughed and collapsed to the mat on his back.

  Dag sat down next to him. "So what's this all about?"

  Thorn raised his head, saw that they were alone, and dropped it back to the mat. Warriors didn't talk about their mates to other warriors so what could he say? He thought about it while he caught his breath. "I'm losing my fucking mind."

  Dag nodded. "Because of your fever?"

  "I thought it was supposed to weaken but it's getting stronger. I can't control it."

  "Have you at least tried using ZL3?"

  "It didn't work."

  "Ah," Dag said. "Did the fighting help?"

  "It took my mind off—." He sighed. "I'll try increasing the dosage."

  "That might be dangerous. Speak to Doctor Liefson first."

  "I didn't believe the scientists when they said a level five warrior and his True Mate couldn't be away from each other for more than two cycles. I do now." Thorn lay on the floor, catching his breath and letting his heart slow. There was so much more to the situation that worried him. "When Naline betrayed me I swore I'd never trust another female. You and Ronin kept harassing me and I'd finally decided that not all females were treacherous deceivers then she came along. This cursed fever makes me want her even though I can't trust her. She used my sons and she was going to harm our people. I'd be a fool to willingly accept her."

  "The Earthlings have a lot of crazy ideas about us. Maybe she thought we wouldn't let her little sister go if she was already on the starship."

  "I don't believe she has a sister, Dag, besides she could have asked any warrior at the landing station for help and received it. She could have come to me once we left Earth and she was trapped on the starship. She didn't do either of those things. Instead she used my sons to help her stay hidden. They claimed her, Dag. I know they don't really understand what that means but she knew what she was doing. I didn't realize they wanted a mother so badly, but she apparently did and it was easy for her to use them. She hurt them and that's my fault. I left them behind after they were born when I should have taken them with me. Believe me I regret it." He stood up. "But, I've got them now and I'll kill anyone who hurts them and that includes her." He held out his hand. Dag took it and Thorn pulled him to his feet.

  "I'm going to the med center to have my aches and pains treated," Dag said.

  Thorn rubbed his finger over his split lip, grimaced with pain and chuckled. "I'll come with you. Cadocson throws a mean left hook."

  Chapter Seven

  Daria was ten micro-units into a tai chi workout when the door to her quarters slid open and Thorn entered. She froze in position then dropped her hands to her sides and rose to a standing position while looking for the towel she'd worn earlier. He walked toward her but stopped a few feet away. The towel lay on the floor between them. She swooped it up, wrapped it around her body and tucked in the end.

  He gazed stayed focused on her, mapping each and every movement she made.

  She shuffled her feet then straightened her shoulders and smiled. "Couldn't stay away, Commander?" She turned and walked toward the kitchen. "Would you like something to drink?"

  "No."

  She glanced over her bare shoulder. "Are you sure? It's no trouble. I'm fixing myself a glass of juice." Taking a deep breath, she held it then exhaled and drew another and held it while she programmed the processor. It beeped indicating the drink was ready. She removed it from the machine and took a sip before she turned around to face him. He stood only inches away, towering over her. She couldn't go forward or back so she scooted to the side and tried to step around him.

  Thorn placed his hands on either side of her and gripped the counter behind her.

  She held the glass between them and froze with her eyes down then looked up. "Are you going to tell me why you're here?"

  Instead of answering her he gripped her wrist and lifted the glass to his lips and took a sip then held the glass to her lips and tipped it. She had no choice but to open her lips or let it run down her chin. She swallowed, licked her lips, and saw his eyes flash to her mouth.

  "What were you doing when I arrived?" Thorn stroked a finger down her cheek to the corner of her mouth.

  Daria turned her head, breaking the contact. "Exercising."

  "It looked more like fight moves."

  "It's based on an ancient form of fighting. A lot of people use
it to stay healthy and in shape."

  "Is that what you use it for?" He stroked his hands down her sides to her waist.

  "Mostly." She set the glass down on the counter, forced her way passed him and whirled to face him. "I'm hot, I'm tired, and I want a shower. What I don't want is to have to deal with you right now, so tell me, Commander, why are you here?"

  "You said you use the exercise mostly for health reasons. What other use does it have for you?"

  Daria wandered into the living area, putting one of the couches between them. "Self-defense."

  Thorn chuckled. "I could take you down in less than a nano-unit."

  "Is that right?" His words angered her, the arrogant oaf. "I'd like to see you try."

  Thorn frowned. "Never challenge a warrior especially when you can't win."

  Daria smiled. "I'd like nothing more than knock you on your ass."

  Thorn shrugged out of his vest, removed his boots and shoved the couch to the side of the room then beckoned to her.

  "What are you doing?"

  "Accepting your challenge."

  "You want to spar with me now?"

  "Yes." Thorn moved to the center of the room and stopped, feet together, arms crossed over his chest and a smile on his face.

  Daria recognized Thorn's relaxed stance as his version of trash-talk, letting her know he didn't take her ability to defend herself seriously. He was a trained warrior and battle proven while she'd only used her skills once to defend herself when she'd been attacked by an angry neighbor. He was big and strong but she was smart and quick. Smiling, she copied his stance. "Okay, best two out of three."

  "Accepted. I'll win then I'll fuck you." Thorn dropped his arms to his sides.

  Daria copied him. "No. You'll lose, leave without getting any, and you don't get to drop in anytime you feel like it."

  Thorn chuckled and walked toward her. Daria met him halfway and attacked. He never moved from the center of the room other than to turn and block her moves. Every chance he got he tugged on the towel and ran his hands over her body. Her breathing became ragged from not only the exercise but with arousal. She tried a combination kick and thrust and he succeeded in loosening the towel. She stepped back, tightened it and barely had time to scream with surprise when he grabbed her and took her to the floor. He cushioned her back with his hands and arms, lowered himself over her, and looked into her eyes. "One." He smiled, jumped up, pulled her up and moved back to the center of the room.

  She followed him, changed tactics and attacked. This time she got in two jabs to his belly before he grabbed the edge of the towel between her breasts. He tugged her off balance, stripped it from her and slung her over his shoulder. "Two. You lose." He swatted her bare bottom, carried her to the bedroom and dropped her on the bed. He removed his pants and boots then laid down next to her. "Close your eyes and think of the meadow."

  She rolled her eyes. "I have a better idea. Let's share sex first then think about the meadow."

  "No. Close your eyes and obey me."

  Daria sighed, closed her eyes and thought about the connection between the sex sharers and the warriors' ability to concentrate. Did they have a mental condition that they treated with the relief they found in sexual release? They always seemed to be on guard so maybe that was the only way they could relax.

  Thorn ran his hands down her belly to her hip then brushed them over her mound. A second later his finger slid over her clit.

  She pulled in a breath, let it out and tried to ignore his touch by returning to her previous thoughts about the blue mist. What caused it and why did is appear whenever Thorn was around her?

  A soft puff of warm air flowed over her face, interrupting her thoughts. She opened her eyes and met Thorn's eyes.

  He leaned down, kissed her and with his lips still against hers, asked, "What are you thinking about?"

  "The blue mist." She held her hand up to show him the soft blue glow that outlined it. "What is it?"

  Thorn laced his fingers with hers and lowered their hands to the bed. "It's just something that happens when a warrior is aroused."

  "Sometimes when you arrive the blue mist is already outlining your body." She smiled. "I think when you think about me you get aroused. You want me."

  He jerked his hand away from hers and frowned. "I want sex. Any female who gave me sex would arouse me."

  "Bastard!" Daria slammed her hands against his shoulder, twisted and thrust her knee between his legs. He managed to protect himself but he still rolled away from her. In a flash she was on her feet and running. On her way through the living room she grabbed the towel, wrapped it around herself and took advantage of the fact he never locked the door when he was with her. She slammed her hand on the opening mechanism and it slid open.

  "Don't you dare run," Thorn shouted.

  Daria glanced over her shoulder and saw him in the doorway of her bedchamber. She hesitated then saw the look of rage on his face. It convinced her she needed to get out of his sight and give him time to cool down. She fled through the door, letting it close behind her. The elevator was almost directly across from her. She opened the doors, stepped inside, gave the command to go to the gymnasium then before the doors closed she slipped out and ran down the corridor. With any luck he'd think she was on that elevator and not on the supply elevator she was running toward.

  She reached it, pressed the opening mechanism, and stepped inside. The doors were closing when she heard him roar her name. She stared at the doors wondering where she could go where he wouldn't find her. Resigned, she got off the elevator and walked back toward her quarters. When she reached them she wasn't able to open the door so she sat down on the floor, leaned against the wall and waited for him to return.

  She shouldn't have run but he'd made her so angry when he'd said any female would do. It shouldn't have bothered her. It wasn't as if she cared what he thought. He was nothing to her. Nothing, she thought, then sighed. She just might be the biggest fool in the universe because somehow, someway, she seemed to be attracted to the big oaf. Damn!

  Ten micro-units later the elevator doors slid open and Thorn stepped off, barefoot and wearing only his pants. He ignored her while he opened the door to her quarters. "In."

  She stood up. "You're not sending me back to the brig?"

  "I'm putting the bands back on you."

  "It figures." She walked by him and sat down on a couch.

  Thorn went into her bedroom and returned with the ankle bands. "Hold out your foot."

  Daria crossed her legs. "No."

  "Daria, don't push me."

  She glared at him. "You touched me, intimately, and said that any female would do. Even men on Earth know better than to do something that insulting."

  "It wasn't an insult. It was the truth."

  "Oh, you are such a bastard." She jumped up, snatched the bands from his hands and threw them across the room.

  He stood over her. "Get them and bring them to me."

  "No. You want them then you go get them."

  "How about we both get them?" He smiled and she stepped back but not quickly enough. Within a nano-unit he had her over his shoulder. He stalked across the room, stooped down, picked up the bands then carried her to the bedroom where he dropped her belly-down onto the bed.

  Daria tried to turn over but he held her down while he captured one of her kicking feet and placed the band on her ankle. She managed to twist onto her side and realized too late that she'd played right into his hands. He grabbed her foot, pulled her leg up into the air, immobilizing her while he put the second band on her ankle.

  "There," he released her and stepped back, "now if you try to escape again I can track you." He opened his pants and shoved them from his hips.

  She scrambled to the top of the bed. "What are you doing?"

  "You lost the bet. I'm collecting my reward."

  "Go find another female since just any one of us will do."

  "You're the female who lost the challenge." He droppe
d down on the bed. "You can fulfill you're part of the challenge and when I leave we'll both be happy or you can be stubborn about this and when I leave only I'll be happy."

  "Or you can leave now and I'll be happy." She made a shooing motion. "Go on now. Git." When she saw his puzzled expression she added, "You can leave now."

  Thorn smiled. "That's not an option. You have five nano-units to choose before I decide for you." He held up a finger. "One." He added a second finger. "Two."

  She slid down onto the bed, spread her legs and dramatically placed the back of one hand on her forehead. "Fine. Take what you want and I'll think of England."

  Thorn laughed. "Think of the meadow instead."

  Daria closed her eyes and thought of what she'd like to do to him in his stupid meadow. She could push him over the falls. Or, drown him in the river. Maybe a wolfen would come along and get him. It would be a female wolfen because every female in the universe, no matter what species, would recognize a jerk when she saw one.

  Thorn drew her attention for a moment when he ran his hands down her legs to her ankles. He circled her ankles with his fingers, right above the bands, reminding her that they were there. She also realized it was a lot easier to ignore his touch when she was upset with him.

  His breath fanned across her belly right before he began laying a circle of kisses around her belly button. She tried her best not to react and succeeded for a moment until she opened her eyes and peeked at him. The expression on his face was mesmerizing. If she didn’t know better she'd think he was worshipping her body. His eyes were closed, his expression one of intense concentration as he pressed each kiss to her skin before slowly moving on. The blue mist surrounded him, thickening and turning darker. A sure sign of his growing arousal.

  She slid her hands over the shaved sides of his head then threaded her fingers into the long strands that grew down the center and fell down his back. He looked at her and slid up her body, kissing her, slowly, exploring her mouth, again and again until she couldn't seem to catch her breath.